Allendale's Rick Morley happy to kick off season at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park

MARTIN -- Rick Morley’s hot rod isn’t the type of vehicle that would have a new car smell to it, but just about everything else about his dragster reeks of improvement.

Morley nearly won an International Hot Rod Association divisional championship a year ago, and when the Allendale driver arrived for Saturday night’s season-opening bracket races at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park and unloaded his hauler, he revealed just how he plans to make another run at a title.

Morley debuted his sleek, blue dragster at Martin when the quarter-mile opened it 49th season of drag races.

"Sometimes, new isn’t always better," Morley said. "But I think it will hopefully be a little more consistent, it has newer technology and a lot better ignition system. It just looks nicer, and it fits me better.

"I bought this car out of Nebraska, and it was built in Tennessee in 2008. My other was a 1999. I’m liking it."

Saturday’s program offered Top Eliminator, Modified, Street and Junior Dragster eliminations, and drivers battled each other as well as rain drops. The program twice was interrupted by short rain delays.

Morley plans to race for a Martin track championship in Top Eliminator. He said his dragster still needs a little work. He has sponsorship from Crane Orchard of Fennville, and he hasn’t had a chance to put the decals on it yet.

He lost in the second round to Rob Sanders of Granger, Ind. However, he did cut a perfect light in his opening round win.

"The .000 light is pretty rare, but I have had a few of them," Morley said. "Usually, those are just luck."

Morley also is going to chase an IHRA Division 3 Top Dragster championship this season, which means he will travel to tracks across the Midwest. Martin has an IHRA Summit Pro Am program scheduled for June 3-5.

A year ago, Morley finished third in the Quick Rod standings.

"I finished one point out of second place and six points out of first," Morley said. "What it came down to was one round."

Al Bruischart of Allegan took top honors in Saturday’s Modified division, defeating Eric Niefer of Kentwood in the finals after Niefer red-lighted. Bruischart collected $1,200 for the victory.

Steve VanderSloot of Portage also won $1,200 when he captured first place in the Top Eliminator class. VanderSloot outran Ed Helman in his dragster in the finals.

"I had to run out and get Mother’s Day presents, like everybody else (Saturday), and then I had a Little League game," VanderSloot said. "I ran up here as fast as I could, and I barely got here for our first time trial session, so it’s a nice surprise.

"It has been about a year-and-a-half since I last won out here. It was long overdue. This was important because it sets the tone for the rest of the year."